UK Israeli embassy 'deeply disturbed' by Bob Vylan's 'death to the IDF' Glastonbury chant - "Death to the IDF!" aired live on BBC

https://news.sky.com/story/israeli-...s-death-to-the-idf-glastonbury-chant-13389912
https://archive.is/stfUA
IMG_3709.webp

The government and the Tories have condemned the outburst - which happened in front of thousands at the festival's West Holts Stage.

The Israeli embassy has said it's "deeply disturbed" by chants of "death to the IDF" at Glastonbury - as police also investigate the incident.
Video shows one of the members of Bob Vylan shouting the slogan into the mic and some of the crowd joining in.

The duo were performing ahead of a performance by Kneecap, the Irish act who the prime minister said should be ditched from the line-up.
"The Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom is deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival," a statement said.

It said slogans like Saturday's chant "advocate for the dismantling of the State of Israel".

The post on X added: "When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence."

Avon and Somerset Police said they are looking at whether a criminal offence was committed.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the force said in a post on social media.

Bob Vylan also performed in front of a screen quoting a claim that Israel's actions in Gaza amount to genocide.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to BBC boss Tim Davie for an "urgent explanation" about what due diligence it carried out into Bob Vylan.

A spokesman said the government strongly condemned the "threatening comments" by the group, whose X bio describes them as a "punk/rap/alt thing".

A BBC statement said: "Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive.
"During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language.

"We have no plans to make the performance available on demand."

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch re-posted a clip of the incident and called it "grotesque".
"Violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked," she said on X.

A statement from Glastonbury Festival said it "does not condone hate speech or incitement to violence of any kind from its performers".

Irish group Kneecap followed Bob Vylan - with the broadcaster not carrying their performance live amid concern over what they might do or say.
However, it's understood their show will be made available on demand after a review.
One of its members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, was charged with a terror offence in May after being accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror group Hezbollah at a gig.

Bandmate Naoise O Caireallain told the packed Glastonbury crowd they should "start a riot outside the courts", before clarifying: "No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine."
O hAnnaidh - also known as Mo Chara - wore a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf for Saturday's set and told fans he was a "free man".

IMG_3710.webp
 
We have another statement from Mr. Vylan
1751398671539.webp

Also yesterday in the House of Commons the The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy (Labour) requested and was granted permission for an urgent debate on this matter.

With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement about the events at Glastonbury over the weekend. Members of Parliament will have seen, as I have, the appalling and unacceptable scenes at Glastonbury on Saturday, where chants of “death to the IDF” and “river to the sea” among others were broadcast to the nation.

I have been in touch with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary as to whether there has been any criminal offence committed. The House will know that decisions relating to specific cases are an operational matter for the police. Avon and Somerset police has confirmed that video evidence is being assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed. It just announced in the last few minutes that that is now taking the form of a criminal investigation. As I hope hon. Members will appreciate, therefore, it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on an ongoing investigation at this stage, but let me be clear that the Government will not tolerate antisemitism, which has no place in our society. It is a poison and a cancer that must be rooted out, and we will be relentless in our work to do so.

The Government work closely with the police and community partners to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities. We will continue to do so following the enormous impact that these events have had on them over the weekend.

Let me turn to the role of the BBC. On Saturday afternoon, just after the broadcast, I called the director general to ask for an explanation and what immediate steps the BBC leadership intended to take. As the Prime Minister said yesterday, it is essential that the BBC explains how these scenes came to be broadcast.

The BBC has rightly apologized and took the immediate decision not to put this content on iPlayer. I welcome that. However, key outstanding questions remain, including: why the performance was broadcast live given concerns regarding other acts in the weeks preceding the festival; why the feed was not immediately cut when the chants of “death to the IDF” began; and what due diligence was done prior to the decision to broadcast this particular act to the nation. I expect answers to those questions without delay. I have made that view clear to the BBC leadership, and I will update the House as soon as I can.

Over the weekend and this morning, I have also had conversations with members of the Jewish community, including those who were present at Glastonbury. They have raised a number of concerns about imagery and slogans that were on display at the festival over the weekend, which I am told led them to establish their own safe space at the festival. As a Government, we take that incredibly seriously. We are urgently looking into the specifics of those alarming reports and reaching out to the festival organizers.

Finally, I want to be clear about the Government’s role. As a Government, we strongly support freedom of expression, and as Culture Secretary I will robustly defend the independence of our broadcasters and the right to artistic expression, but we do not accept that incitement to violence, hate speech or antisemitism is art. There is a clear difference between speaking out for Palestine, which is the right of everybody in this House and everybody in our country, and antisemitism, which is not and never will be. When the rights and safety of people and communities are at risk and when our national broadcaster fails to uphold its own standards, we will intervene. In the coming days, I will be having further conversations with the BBC and festival organisers to ensure that lessons are learned and action is taken.
It has been pointed out by based members of Xitter that by the governments own antisemitism rules equating the conduct of some Jews with all Jews is in fact anti-Semitic. Therefore associating all Jews with supporting the IDF is in fact racist and bigoted and you should be canceled, life ruined and possible executed.

This debate by the way went on for 45 minutes of parliamentary time they could spent on welfare reform, Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery, Deprivation of Citizenship Orders, Rare Cancer Bill, or Road Safety Powers: Parish and Town Councils all of those things much more worthy of an extra 45 minutes of political hot air.
 
Last edited:
I'm sick of all these musicians thinking they can use a war in a different country as a springboard for their success. Those Irish guys with extra chromosomes, that nobody would be talking about, and now this. I thought it would be at it's worst when that retard reggie watts kept pestering thom york to speak up about baby killing but this is even more insufferable.
 
Back